For animated maps illustrating Georgia county boundary changes, [http://www.mapofus.org/georgia/ "Rotating Formation Georgia County Boundary Maps"] (1758-1932) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

For animated maps illustrating Georgia county boundary changes, [http://www.mapofus.org/georgia/ "Rotating Formation Georgia County Boundary Maps"] (1758-1932) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

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==== Record Loss ====

==== Record Loss ====

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'''1865 and 1928''' -- Courthouse burned and many records were damaged. For a list of record loss in Georgia counties see: [http://www.genealogyinc.com/georgia/ga-counties/#courthouse Georgia Counties with Burned Courthouses]

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[[File:War.jpg|right|175px]]'''1864''' and 1927. During the American Civil War federal troops destroyed the courthouse about 30 October 1864. The earliest marriage and probate records were apparently lost at that time. Significant county records including deeds survived.<ref name="PKG">Paul K. Graham, ''Georgia Courthouse Disasters'' (Decatur, Georgia: Genealogy Co., 2013), 19-20. {{WorldCat|852690295|item|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}.</ref><br><br>

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A later fire destroyed the courthouse on 10 March 1927, but county records were carried to safety.<ref name="PKG" />

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For further information on researching in burned counties, see the following:

Boundary Changes

Variant Spellings

Record Loss

1864 and 1927. During the American Civil War federal troops destroyed the courthouse about 30 October 1864. The earliest marriage and probate records were apparently lost at that time. Significant county records including deeds survived.[3]

A later fire destroyed the courthouse on 10 March 1927, but county records were carried to safety.[3]

For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:

Populated Places

Neighboring Counties

Genealogy Resources

Research Guides

African Americans

Bible Records

Cemeteries

Census

Church Records

Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For general information about Georgia denominations, see the Georgia Church Records wiki page.

Court

Genealogy

Land and Property

Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.

See Georgia Land and Property for additional information about early Georgia land grants from the government. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions (generally buying and selling deeds) were usually recorded at the county courthouse and where records are currently housed.

Local Histories

Local histories are available for Cherokee County, Georgia Genealogy. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the wiki page section Georgia Local Histories.

Annotated Obituaries from the Cherokee Advance, Canton, Georgia, 1880-1938. by John Carver, 2003. Over 600 pages.

Occupations

Probate Records

Colonial courts kept some early probate records. From 1777 to 1798 and since 1852, the court of ordinary or register of probates has kept probate and guardianship records. The inferior court handled probate and guardianship matters from 1798 to 1852.

Abstracts of Cherokee County, Georgia, Wills and Bonds, 1847-1921. by John Carver 2005. Over 350 pages.

Taxation

Taxes were levied on free white males over 21 and slaves aged 21 to 60. These persons are referred to as "polls." Tax listings, or digests, of a county generally list the taxable landowners and other polls and the amount of tax. The records for each county are divided by militia district.